Respect for police officers at highest since 1967, poll says

HOUSTON — Blues lives do matter! Americans' love for law enforcement is close to record high numbers, according to a new Gallup poll.

The findings show 76 percent of those surveyed say they have a "great deal of respect" for local law enforcement — that percentage is 12 point above last year's numbers, and just one point away from the all-time high in 1967 of 77 percent.

Still, some are shocked to hear this positive police praise after nearly two years of protests against law enforcement for several officer-involved deaths involving black men. The study did find a racial split in the overall number with 80 percent of whites "respecting the shield", compared with 67 percent of non-whites. Both groups showed higher numbers than last year.

Gallup surveyed a sample of just over 1,000 adults by phone, and the poll has a 4-point margin of error.